James "JL" Lee Poole

James “JL” Lee Poole, age 81, of Bessemer City, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome on Friday, August 28th, 2026. He was born on January 11, 1945, in McAdenville, North Carolina. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend to many. 

After high school, JL enlisted in the Navy where he served aboard the USS Yorktown (CVS-10) which is now decommissioned and a museum in Charleston. While on shore leave in Long Beach, California, he met and married the late Barbara Poole and brought her home to North Carolina. JL worked at numerous places over the years including Delmar, Custom Industries and Freightliner. His grandchildren were the light of his life, and he enjoyed every moment spent with them, creating lasting memories that they will treasure forever. In his leisure time, he enjoyed hunting, puzzles, playing rummy, collecting coins and telling dad jokes. JL will be missed but will forever remain in our hearts.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Poole; mother and father, Evelyn and James Poole; sisters, Ida Mae Chandler, Helen “Sis” Brandenburg and Brenda Langford.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children Tina Davis (Denny), Rebecca “Becky” Harwell (Brian) and James “Jimmy” Poole (Kendall); bonus kids Jennifer Grant (Mike) and Wes Gibby (Lauren); brother Terry Poole; sister Alice Brockman; grandchildren Chelsea Walters (Austin), Austin Harwell (Kristin), Denny Davis II, Emma Poole (Nate Kang), Kensleigh Kim, Mikah Kim, and Elijah Poole; great-grandchildren Colby Jean Walters and Raylin Lee Walters; along with a number of nieces, nephews, and special friends that loved him dearly.

The family would like to send a special “Thank You” to his caregiver Nate Kang and helpers Larry (Nikki) Warren. We would also like to say Thank You to his “ladies”: Amber (Olive Garden), Clarissa (Cracker Barrel), the infusion ladies at CaroMont Infusion and South Charlotte VA Clinic who doted on our daddy.

A memorial service to celebrate JL’s life will be held at 5:00 PM, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, 730 Gastonia Hwy., Bessemer City, NC, with CH (COL) Jerry David Hall officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Inurnment will be held privately with the family. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Gaston County Cancer Services, United Veterans of America, 4025 W. Franklin Blvd, Bessemer City, NC 28016 or Least of These, 1000 S. Myrtle School Road, Gastonia, NC 28054.